Extendable plant tray assembly

Abstract

An extendable plant tray assembly comprising a plurality of plant holders in a grid structure, wherein in a first direction said plant holders are movably connected through an extension system arranged to move said assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, the assembly including at least one grid structure element holding a plurality of plant holders in a second direction transverse to said first direction, wherein the plurality of plant holders are arranged on the at least one grid structure element in a staggered manner, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, wherein the extension system comprises extendable connection members which are configured to connect at least two grid structure elements, and wherein the extendable connection members are detachably connected to said at least two grid structure elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An extendable plant tray assembly comprising a plurality of plant holders in a grid structure, wherein in a first direction said plant holders are movably connected through an extension system arranged to move said assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, the assembly including at least two grid structure elements holding a plurality of plant holders in a second direction transverse to said first direction, wherein the plurality of plant holders are arranged on the grid structure elements in a staggered manner, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, wherein the extension system comprises extendable connection members which are configured to connect the at least two grid structure elements, wherein the extendable connection members are detachably connected to said at least two grid structure elements, wherein each of the extendable connection members comprises at least a first beam, a second beam, and one or more sliding guiding members arranged to enable sliding of the first and second beams with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein, for each extendable connection member, at least a first connection unit and a second connection unit is arranged on respectively the first and the second beam, and wherein the first and second connection units are configured to be detachably connectable to dedicated portions of the grid structure elements by snap-fitting. 
     
     
       2. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each grid structure elements comprises a plurality of slots to which one end of the extendable connection members is attachable. 
     
     
       3. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the extension system is a slidable extension system. 
     
     
       4. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the slidable extension system comprises at least one telescopically extendable rod connecting at least two grid structure elements. 
     
     
       5. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plant holders have sloping walls. 
     
     
       6. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plant holders are tapered towards the bottom side. 
     
     
       7. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between diagonally adjacent plant holders remains unchanged between said retracted position and said extended position of said assembly. 
     
     
       8. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the plant holder includes a bottom surface, with at least one hole. 
     
     
       9. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the bottom surface comprises one or more protrusions to lift the bottom surface in order to allow water and/or air to access the at least one hole. 
     
     
       10. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said grid structure element and/or said grid structure end element are modular elements, to which a desired number of plant holders is mountable. 
     
     
       11. The extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the dedicated portions of the grid structure elements are at least one of the group consisting of: slots, holes, or protrusions. 
     
     
       12. A method of making a plant tray assembly extendable in a first direction, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of plant holders in a grid structure, wherein at least one grid structure element is provided which is configured to hold a plurality of plant holders in a second direction transverse to said first direction, wherein the plurality of plant holders are arranged on the at least one grid structure element in a staggered manner, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, 
 providing an extension system configured to enable movement of the plant tray assembly in the first direction between a retracted position and an extended position, the assembly, and 
 connecting at least two grid structure elements with an extendable connection member, the extendable connection member being detachably connected to the at least two grid structure elements; 
 wherein the extendable connection member comprises at least a first beam, a second beam, and one or more sliding guiding members arranged to enable sliding of the first and second beams with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein, for the extendable connection member, at least a first connection unit and a second connection unit is arranged on respectively the first and the second beam, and wherein the first and second connection units are configured to be detachably connectable to dedicated portions of the grid structure elements by snap-fitting. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the size of the plant tray assembly is expanded or reduced by changing the number of grid structure elements used, and wherein the connection between grid structure elements is correspondingly adjusted using the detachable extendable connection members. 
     
     
       14. A plant tray system comprising:
 an extendable plant tray assembly comprising a plurality of plant holders in a grid structure, wherein in a first direction said plant holders are movably connected through an extension system arranged to move said assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, the assembly including at least one grid structure element holding a plurality of plant holders in a second direction transverse to said first direction, wherein the plurality of plant holders are arranged on the at least one grid structure element in a staggered manner, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, wherein the extension system comprises extendable connection members which are configured to connect at least two grid structure elements, wherein the extendable connection members are detachably connected to said at least two grid structure elements, wherein each of the extendable connection members comprises at least a first beam, a second beam, and one or more sliding guiding members arranged to enable sliding of the first and second beams with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein, for each extendable connection member, at least a first connection unit and a second connection unit is arranged on respectively the first and the second beam, and wherein the first and second connection units are configured to be detachably connectable to dedicated portions of the grid structure elements by snap-fitting; and 
 a base on which the extendable plant tray assembly is placeable, wherein the base comprises a plurality of gutters arranged in parallel next to each other extending in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       15. The plant tray system according to  claim 14 , wherein the gutters are sloping in order to allow the flow of water from one end to another end. 
     
     
       16. The plant tray system according to  claim 14 , wherein the plant tray system further includes a ventilation unit, configured to blow air through the gutters. 
     
     
       17. A grid structure element for an extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , the grid structure element arranged to hold a plurality of plant holders in a staggered manner, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, wherein between each adjacent plant holder a slot is arranged to which one end of an extendable connection member is attachable. 
     
     
       18. A grid structure end element for an extendable plant tray assembly according to  claim 1 , the grid structure arranged to hold a plurality of plant holders only at a single side, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, wherein between each adjacent plant holder a slot is arranged to which one end of an extendable connection member is attachable. 
     
     
       19. An extendable connection member comprising at least a first connection unit and a second connection unit, wherein the first and second connection units are configured to be attachable to dedicated portions of a grid structure element according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
       20. A method for producing plants, the method comprising:
 providing an extendable plant tray assembly comprising a plurality of plant holders in a grid structure, wherein in a first direction said plant holders are movably connected through an extension system arranged to move said assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, the assembly including at least one grid structure element holding a plurality of plant holders in a second direction transverse to said first direction, wherein the plurality of plant holders are arranged on the at least one grid structure element in a staggered manner, alternating a plant holder with a plant holder receiving space, wherein the extension system comprises extendable connection members which are configured to connect at least two grid structure elements, wherein the extendable connection members are detachably connected to said at least two grid structure elements, wherein the extendable connection member comprises at least a first beam, a second beam, and one or more sliding guiding members arranged to enable sliding of the first and second beams with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein, for the extendable connection member, at least a first connection unit and a second connection unit is arranged on respectively the first and the second beam, and wherein the first and second connection units are configured to be detachably connectable to dedicated portions of the grid structure elements by snap-fitting; 
 filling the plant pots with medium, wherein a seed, seedling or plant is placed in the medium; 
 providing a base on which the extendable plant tray assembly is placeable, wherein the base comprises a plurality of gutters arranged in parallel next to each other extending in the first direction; 
 placing the extendable plant tray assembly in retracted position on said base; and 
 extending the extendable plant tray assembly from the retracted position to its extended position based on a size of the plants. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the base comprises gutters and wherein water is provided via the gutters. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 21 , wherein ventilation for the plants is provided by blowing air between the plant holders in an upward direction along the plant holders.